3rd Post

October 13th

Preparations and celebrations

Guys, sorry for the delay in the blog updates, we’re working on African time.

Today has been a hive of activity. It was day 1 of “The Acorn listening course”, which commenced after much advance preparation, photocopying and perspiration. It was a somewhat difficult start. Sheila and Frances had to adapt to requirements due to lack of understanding initially on the nature of the course. Listening, what’s that all about?

The participants arrived in dribs and drabs and found the interactive style different from the more usual didactic course.

Chris Park took 4 lessons in school. He was amazed at the bible knowledge of the pupils but was saddened when he thought of the contrast to the children at home. Why don’t we value bible teaching more?

He also took a school staff prayer meeting. The very fact that they were having a prayer meeting at all was something that he thought was fantastic.

In the evening it was party time. Ann Lipson reached the big 70. A feast had been prepared but our tummies were rumbling as we waited several hours for the required speeches to be given. The Kenyan people really know the meaning of “it’s good to talk”. It was wonderful to hear of all the tributes to Ann Lipson. She is variably known as Auntie Ann or Grandma to large numbers of Kenya people. On hearing of all that Ann has done during her 34 years in Kenya the parable of the talents came to mind and the words “well done, good and faithful servant”.

October 14th

Big-brother, little brother

Manchester today was notable weather wise. There was no rain.

Everyone has been very busy. Sylvia has been at Dreamland school, teaching all day.
Malcolm was running a session for COREL leaders whilst Helen was working on the management presentation.

Jen was in school teaching poetry. We’re told by those painting the library that the gales of laughter emitting from her classroom could be heard throughout the school.

AP was preaching, again, in the community. The poor man didn’t get his lunch until 4.30pm. It was served up in a mud hut. (For those who are interested there are no further developments, as yet, on his admirer.)

Wherever we go a little voice can be heard saying “hello, how are you?” When you reply in the standard fashion, “fine, how are you?” then you suddenly hear a loud chorus repeating the initial question and become aware of numerous small black faces peering around trees, looking through windows or popping up from the backs of vehicles.

We must make more reference to our evening gatherings. We are continuing to meditate on some of the Psalms. We’re all really enjoying and benefiting from this. After this “quiet” time the evenings tend to degenerate somewhat. We certainly don’t need a tv here. Big brother comes to mind…………….


October 15th
Farewell

Today we are saying goodbye to Sylvia. We will all really miss her. In her usual quiet, unassuming way she has ministered greatly to the people here and also to us, the Didsbury gang.
Sylvia has been teaching bible stories to different classes at Dreamland school along with Chris. She also gave a talk on Sunday morning at the school service. This is usually done completely by the children.


October 16th
Tiredness

Sleep is still not easy for many of us. The cockerel is still alive and well though the cow sounds much less moody.

Today Malcolm and Helen have given a full day management seminar to members of the IcFEM team. They have reported back on some of their observations on the running of IcFEM and have been able to make a number of helpful suggestions and recommendations. The word about the compound following the end of the seminar was very positive. IcFEM members have really valued this input.

Five team members (David, Naomi, Jen, Sheila and Frances) went to a meeting for people with HIV/AIDs. Approximately 60 people attended. The session started with joyous singing and then David spoke from Luke 19 on Zaccheus. The invitation for prayer was well received with many people coming forward. David was glad to have the other team members to help with prayer ministry.

Naomi was especially delighted at the hunger of people to receive God’s grace and felt privileged to be part of ministering to them.

We are all feeling tired as we draw to the end of this week. There is a sense of relief and satisfaction that the IcFEM work has been done and done well.

Other work continues however, a man’s work is never done, so the saying goes. What a sight was before our eyes this evening as we came back to the guest house. Outside under the bright Kenyan sun DH was putting his heart and soul into his hand washing whilst AP was busy pegging out the washing.

Quote of the day from Malcolm “has anyone seen my trousers”.

October 17th

Finished chores

Hurray, hurray, the painting of the library has been completed. It looks fabtastic.

There was an official opening ceremony and the Didsbury gang were made, once again, to feel like very important visitors.
JoF, Deborah and Hannah have done a really great job and despite the somewhat tedious and back-breaking need for 4 layers of undercoat they have thoroughly enjoyed what they have been doing. At break times their work has been coloured by the presence of lots of the school children eager to view the newest additions to the painting. They have asked lots of questions on very diverse topics. Please ask Deborah for a low down when she’s back.
There will probably be some tears when we say goodbye to JoF and Hannah in the next couple of days.

A graduation ceremony was scheduled to commence after the official opening of the school library. This was so that the students on the first aid, knitting and listening courses could receive their certificates of attendance. Certificates are highly valued here.
JoR, having very successfully run the first aid course, presented the certificates to her pupils. (A little update on Ivan: he became redundant half-way through the course). Sharon gave certificates to the knitting ladies, know known as the weaver birds, and Frances and Sheila presented to the listeners. Sharon was slightly bemused and significantly touched to receive an overwhelming display of thanks from her weaver birds. She was presented with a beautiful handbag and then she herself was gift-wrapped in a large piece of material!

Sharon made a thought-provoking observation regarding this trip. Here in Kenya relationships are highly-prized and little value is put on material possessions. At home in Didsbury, Manchester, our clothes and homes and cars are valued greatly and relationships, relatively-speaking, are of much less worth.

We’ve gained greatly from the perspective here. We don’t want to lose it.

There was a feedback session in the afternoon. Everybody was given an opportunity to evaluate both the good and the bad of their time here. The session ended with some powerful prayer and praise. We sang and danced to some Ki-swahili choruses and had a great time. Sian eat your heart out…

October 18th
Electricity!

Dreamland medical centre has electricity from today. This is a massive step forward for the hospital and means that it will know really be “fit for purpose”. (We’ve been learning management speech from Helen and Malcolm).

We’ve split into 2 groups today. Those with adventurous spirits went to Mount Elgon National Park, a smaller group remaining at the guest house to chill-out.
The heavens opened dramatically once more making the roads semi-solid, orange mud.

2nd Post

October 11th

Free-time and sunshine

Webuye Falls are quite dramatic. Brown water gushes along the 5 falls to cascade down into a common river. The sun shone very strongly and the heat we experienced is what we had expected from Africa. It’s hotter here because we have come down in altitude we later learn from Ruth Nabie.

We stop en route to try the ATM and check out the local town. A man is selling flip-flops made from recycled rubber tyres. Tatwa, the deputy director of IcFEM, purchases some on behalf of Hannah. They cost one quarter of the price that she would have paid as an “msungu” (white person).

The cool water of the swimming pool comes as a most welcome relief from the heat. Matthew takes us to his hang-out joint in Webuye. It’s a local hotel with a small swimming pool. Our white skin looks strange compared to the deep tans of the locals who are already enjoying the cool water.

We ravenously tuck into chicken and chips after our unexpected exercise. (Unfortunately it was so unexpected that some people hadn’t brought swimming costumes with them. Some found ingenious ways to make do though).

Our evening meetings continue to be a source of real blessing. We’ve been looking through the Psalms. Tonight is Psalm 24. Verse 1 seems to have greater meaning here, so far from our home.

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell in it”.

The evening meetings have also been a good opportunity to learn what everyone has been doing as we are all split up during the week doing our various tasks.
Despite feeling overwhelmed at first with her remit, Jo Riley and her side-kick Ivan, have had great fun teaching first-aid and resuscitation skills to various members of IcFEM. The interactive style used has been a new experience for the Kenyan people but the great eagerness to learn has overcome any nerves.
Jo R really wants the folks at home to know that the kingdom of God is coming to Kenya and transforming the place and its people through the work of IcFEM. We’re all finding it a privilege to play a small part in this transformation.

Finally the evening meetings are also a time of great fun. For those of us who didn’t already know it, our spiritual leader, DH, has a very naughty sense of humour!

October 12th

Spiritual blessings and lots of rain

We have discovered the true meaning of the name IcFEM which even now we find a bit of a mouthful. The IcF bit (Interchristian Fellowships) is truly ingenious. IcFEM doesn’t have one denomination. Its members all go to different churches and this is actively encouraged. Approximately one-half attend Roman Catholic churches, one-quarter Quaker and the remainder are a miscellaneous mixture including Anglican. In this way the social action work of IcFEM is more productive.

The 3 vics have been working really hard.

Yes honestly.

AP, Chris and David were all allotted different churches to preach at. You have to preach for at least an hour or you’re not thought to be the genuine article. Having personally been in attendance at APs sermon he did a fine job.

St James and Emmanuel beware!

16 African adventurers

October 6th

Darkness surrounded us as we arrived at Manchester at 4am for the start of our Kenyan adventure.
The 16 daring Didsbury travellers had a good flight from Manchester to Nairobi via Amsterdam.
Our youngest member, Hannah, gained a year that first day to become 10 years old. She was treated to bags of goodies by the courteous flight attendants on both flights and was even entertained in the cockpit and photographed in the captain’s hat flying over the Libyan dessert!

The St James and Emmanuel sign waving at us as we passed through customs in Nairobi made us feel at home. We were swiftly taken to the Anglican Church guest house where we enjoyed a comfortable night prior to another early rise…………..

Jo Riley knew that she’d arrived in Africa when she couldn’t wash the conditioner out of her hair in the morning.

October 7th

Nairobi by bus is similar to many international cities, high rises, smooth roads and glossies ads. What’s all the fuss?

Sheila Brannen, the most unlikely terrorist, underwent a luggage search courtesy of the odd looking orthopaedic equipment we were carrying between us. Otherwise Nairobi airport was unremarkable. The flight from Nairobi to Kisumu left on time and arrived early. The flight may have been short but the change in environment was a world away. Kisumu airport is like something from Fisher Price. No-one could quite believe that the baggage handlers wheeled the baggage cart across the apron from where we rescued our belongings at the edge of the runway.

At some point we passed the equator!

Our journey so far had been so smooth, what a contrast to come. We jiggled and jostled the whole 3 hour journey from Kisumu to Kimilili. Alan P asked Sheila what side of the road people drove along. The answer somewhat surprised him – “the side opposite the potholes”.

The IcFEM guest house in Kimilili was such a welcome sight and was equalled by the warm Kenyan welcome.
Karibu, karibu was the cry (welcome, welcome).

October 8th
Meeting new people

The early rising continued, the sounds of the country punctuating the night (someone please kill the cockrell).

Jen regaled us, over breakfast, with the tales of the man she found in her bed. We were relieved to find out that it was only “Ivan the Dummy” the resuscitation tool Jo Riley had brought with her to aid her first aid lectures.

This was a day of orientation with lectures about the history of IcFEM (Interchristian Fellowships Evangelical Mission) and how IcFEM actually functions. It is an amazing tale of God’s power…..Do ask us about it when we return.

In the afternoon, we planted trees, one tree per person from Didsbury. Let me remind you who they are: David Hughes, Sylvia Finlay, Jo Finlay, Frances Vann, Jo Riley, Helen Clarke, Deborah Conibear, Naomi Hughes, Amy Smith, Jen Hyland, Sharon David, Malcolm Rae, Sheila Brannen, Alan Pugmire (now known as “AP”), Hannah Park and Chris Park.

We visited several schools. One had 2000 pupils and up to 100 children in a class. Some of the classes have no desks and everyone has to sit on the floor. These visits saw the emergence of Princess Hannah who experienced such fascination from the pupils that she was almost mobbed on each occasion. She’s certainly the celebrity out here!

Helen Clarke lost some hair, so excited were the Kenyan children, to feel her blonde locks.

Memorable quote of the day, “What are those animals, like small horses with horns?” asked Jo Finlay. “Do you mean the goats” said Jo Riley….”Oh yes, that’s what they are” replied JF.


October 9th
Transportation and transformations

What a day we’ve had. In the evening over our devotions, led by Chris, we learnt of the amazing things that people had been up to.
AP had enjoyed his long, packed, day immensely and still had his characteristic smile in place, even more amazing when we heard about his vehicle journey along the pock-marked roads. All IcFEM Kenyan drivers have PhDs……Pot hole detectors, to aid smoother driving.

Sheila, Frances and Malcolm visited the local market. They met several people who have benefited from the IcFEM COREL schemes. These allow people to have loans to enable them to kick-start a small business. One lady had bought a cow. Sales of the milk allowed her to pay school fees and support elderly relatives.

Sheila and Frances enjoyed their drive home on the “boda-boda”. This is an ordinary bicycle used in an extraordinary way, the passenger travelling side-saddle on the backseat.

Naomi nearly fell down “a hole in the ground” toilet, not a pleasant experience but fortunately could have been much worse.

October 10th
Hailstones and hospitals

We learnt over breakfast about the late night galavanting of Frances Vann. How the least likely people can be most surprising.

Jen headed off early for her trip with the Dutch doctors and enjoyed encouraging the patients patiently waiting for their medical review. Many of the patients had malaria and Jen is now confident in her ability to diagnose this condition. If you have any medical queries please see her on her return.

JoF and Deborah headed off confidently to commence the painting of the school library. Unfortunately blood was spilt though. Jo stumbled and struck her foot on a nail causing the skin to flap open and blood to pour everywhere. However she was happy that this allowed her to check out the local medical facilities.
Don’t worry though she’s looking more than fine now, despite the large injection she had in her rear.

Amy tackled an eye screening clinic set up in a local church. She enjoyed examining the patients to the backdrop of country sounds. The birds were singing ever more loudly when she realised that a hen with a brood of chicks had nestled under the examination table and they were making music merrily, business as usual!

Then the clouds opened and the largest hailstones we had ever seen fell from the sky. Rain is a blessing here in Kenya, we’re not so sure about hail. We hope the Didsbury bunch are not being blamed for carrying the weather with them. Jen dares everyone to take a boda-boda in the eye of a hail storm!! ‘There’s nothing quite like it!’

Before we sign off for the night we must let you know that AP has an admirer!!!! He was presented with a bunch of white lilies and asked for his phone number and guess what?...........he gave it…….to be continued.

Arrival Date

Hi everyone, we arrive on the 7th October and leave on 20th October so please feel free to view our blog and keep updated with our journey. There is a group of 16 of us and we'll be participating in variuos areas.